Captain's Blog

Hello whalewatchers,

It’s our second day in Laguna San Ignacio, the gray whale winter lagoon.

We sent a group of birders to the mangroves first thing this morning and everyone had a great trip with lots of birds seen. Another panga with whalewatchers went out and had a great trip also. We had a break and sent the whole group out whalewatching.  We all enjoyed lots of sightings and saw all the usual gray whale behaviors. After lunch the group went to the beach for a walk and a look at a gray whale carcass from earlier in the season.

Here is our highlight with a curious whale visiting the Searcher again for at least an hour. The crew got the deck brush out and gave the whale a scratch on the head.

We are departing this afternoon and heading south tonight.

Captain Art and Team Searcher

Hello all,

We arrived safely to Laguna San Ignacio this morning and were greeted with several gray whales at the entrance. Our pangas arrived, and we are lucky to have some old friends to work with this trip; Victor, Domingo and Chopi. These guys were part of the original panga drivers from the start 24 years ago. It’a been so good to reconnect with them. The conditions are pleasant with light winds so far. We had a whale come by the bow and the anchor line this morning and here is a picture next to Searcher.

More later,

Captain Art and Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers:

We started our first trip of 2022 with challenging weather, wind and rain for the first 24 hours. But the further south we travel, the better the weather.

Yesterday we travelled south from Ensenada and in the afternoon we had some good views of Laysan albatross and a pair of fin whales. We also saw plenty of Black-vented shearwaters, Northern fulmars and a distant view of a Black-footed albatross. Great seabirding in the wind!

We are arriving at Isla San Benito this morning and the weather looks much better with a few clouds and light winds. It should be great hiking weather. I’m sure the group will appreciate stopping and watching the nesting osprey and resting elephant seals.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Baja sunrise this morning just north of Isla San Benito island with Isla Cedros in the distance

Good afternoon whalewatchers:

We arrived just after breakfast this morning and it was great to stop the boat in a calm spot. Everyone enjoyed the walk and saw plenty of pinnipeds: Northern elephant seals and Guadalupe fur seals. There were approxiamately 100 fur seals which is great to see at this time of year. The island was dry with not much in bloom. Here is a photo of the group on the trail Everything else is going well, we hope for less wind tomorrow as we arrive at Laguna San Ignacio.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Group on the trail on Isla San Benito